Portable diving appliance



Sept. 2, 1969 H. J. STREIT 3,464,217

PORTABLE DIVING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 31., 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HARRY J. STREIT Sept. 2, 1969 Filed Jan. 31, 1968 H. J. STREIT PORTABLE DIVING APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 3

9 34 34 Z O 4 34 [I 1 I 1 r I INVENTOR.

HARRY J. STREIT AGENT P 2, 1959 H. J. STREIT 3,464,217

PORTABLE DIVING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 31, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 75' INVENTOR. HARRY J. STREIT BY W AGENT United States Patent 3,464,217 PORTABLE DIVING APPLIANCE Harry J. Streit, 113 W. Olney Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19120 Filed Jan. 31, 1968, Ser. No. 701,956 Int. Cl. B63c 11/36; B63g 8/24; A45c 7/00 U.S. Cl. 61-69 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A simple type, diving bell comprising a plurality of metallic braces, attached to a top portion and a seat and entrance portion, and forming a truncated cone shape when open. A nylon reinforced rubberized fabric attached to the inner portion of the braces and to form the main body portion. The bell being collapsible for transporting to the work site.

The invention relates to a diving appliance and more particularly to a portable diving bell which is collapsible for easy transportation and light weight for easy manipulation on the surface and underwater.

In the past diving bells have been large, heavy and cumbersome and required large ships equipped with large rigging means to transport to the work site and utilize once there. US. Patent No. 3,299,645, issued to E. A. Link on Jan. 24, 1967, is illustrative of this type. It is obvious that Links type of device would not be available to the average diver working on a relatively small scale operation and the salvage type diver working with some remote unit without heavy rigging capability.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a diving appliance that will be of practical and economical value to the average working diver, small salvage outfits or any low budget diving operation using scuba, or any light weight type of diving equipment.

Another object is the provision of a diving appliance capable of increasing the eflectiveness and safety of scuba and light weight diving gear in connection with diving operations.

A further object is to provide a diving appliance which makes practical the use of stage decompression system and the use of oxygen decompression techniques while using scuba or light weight diving gear.

A still further object is the provision of a diving appliance which provides a practical emergency type means for accomplishing treatment of divers diseases and injuries in the water in remote areas where no recompression chamber is available.

An additional object is to provide a diving appliance which provides an at depth base of operations or communication center and safety haven for scuba and light weight rigged divers.

Still another object is the provision of a diving appliance which can be delivered to the work site by light plane, helicopter or boat.

The above objects as well as others together with the benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed description set forth below, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the invention with portions removed.

FIG.2 is a bottom view of the entrance way of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention, with parts removed, indicating the open and folded positions.

FIG. 4 is a view as taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

3,464,217 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical illustration of the invention in operation.

Referring now to FIGS. l-S, there is shown in diving appliance indicated generally by reference character 10. The appliance or diving bell 10 comprises a plurality of metallic pipe or angle braces 12 which are joined to a top member 14 and to a bottom member 16 by hinges 18 and 19, respectively. The top member 14 has secured thereto an inflation air valve 20 and a vent valve 22. Attached to the air valve 20 is a nonreturn valve 23, an air hose 24 and a lifeline 26 which go to the surface of the water when in operation. The bottom member 16 includes a metallic center disc 28 which has a hole 30 centered therethrough. Seats 32, are comprised of a plurality of individual sections 34 having stifleners 33 and are attached to a plurality of pipe braces 36 which are attached to hinges 19 at one end and to hinges 21 at the other. The seats 32 snap into the braces 36 in a manner illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4 which shows seat 32 having a pair of L shaped members 35 integral with the under portion of the seat 32 so as to provide a space for brace 36. FIG. 5 illustrates the connection between two seat sections each having an L-shaped member 35 integral with its outer portion so as to form a space for the corresponding brace 36.

A main support cable 37 at one end is secured to said top member 14, as at 39, and passes through said hole 30 in said center disc 28'. Immediately beneath said center disc 28 is a stop 41 attached to said cable 37 which prevents said center disc 28 from travelling therebelow.

When the device 10 is folded the center disc 28 is raised and this movement automatically causes the braces 12 to assume the position as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. It is of course necessary to remove the seat sections 32 before folding can be achieved.

The main support cable 37 at the other end passes through the juncture of the plurality of foot ropes 38 and secures to a mooring link 40. The mooring link 40 is secured to a mooring line 42 which is attached to the work site. Also secured to the mooring link is a plurality of guy lines 44 which pass through end portions 46 of the foot ropes 38 and are attached to certain of the hinges 19. A nylon reinforced, rubberized fabric 47 is attached inside the pipe braces 12 and is attached to the top member 14 and the bottom member 16. A rim wire 48 is provided around the bottom member 16 to provide additional security.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the utilization of the invention by showing the diving boat 50, anchored above the work site, which in this case happens to be a sunken ship 52. A first bell 10, shown in the position marked by reference character A, is utilized in this position for decompression, while a second bell 10, shown in the position marked by reference character B, is utilized in this position as a safety haven near the work site.

In operation, the diver after lowering the bell into the water by hand, attaching the mooring line to the work site or anchor, then inflates the bell by first closing the vent valve 22 and then opening the air supply valve 20, thereby displacing the water until the air pressure is equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the bell hence maintaining the water level at the bottom and providing sufi'lcient positive buoyancy for mooring. Over inflation of the unit is impossible due to the open construction of the bottom. After inflation, the air control valve 20 may be opened or closed, as the situation requires, in regard to ventilation requirements. Changes in the depth of the hell are made by adjusting the mooring line. To change to a deeper depth the bell may be deflated to reduce the positive buoyancy to zero. To change to a lesser depth the mooring line may he slipped or rendered without deflating, letting the excess positive buoyancy pull it up to the new depth. It is also possible in an extended operation to mount a winch on the wreck and pull the bell down or let it up without deflating. The ability to raise the bell to a lesser depth without deflating is the key to the successful use of this appliance in decompression and emergency treatment of bends or embolisms.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is conical I shaped to minimize the stress influence due to the pressure difference caused by its height, which is feet. It is 6 feet in diameter at its base and is 12 inches in diameter at the top. Its internal volume is approximately 56 cubic feet. It weighs approximately 150 pounds in air complete with rigging. Its submerged buoyancy when inflated is about 3600 pounds. The top of the bell is an aluminum weldrnent and the body is basically a nylon and rubber fabric which is replaceable. All of the guy wires, foot ropes, support cables and rim wires are manufactured of corrosion resisting steel. All other metallic parts are non-corrosive, light weight materials such as aluminum or the like.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A portable, collapsible, light weight diving appliance comprising:

a plurality of braces,

a top member hingedly secured to one end of each brace,

a bottom member hingedly secured to the other end of each brace and including a center disc having a hole in the center thereof for passage of said support means, a plurality of braces hingedly attached to said center disc and said first mentioned braces, and seat means removably secured to said braces, support means extending from said top member, through said bottom member,

mooring means secured to said support means for positioning said appliance in the submerged state,

a fabric attached inside said braces to said top and bottom members, providing a closed shelter, and adjustable pressurizing means for inflating the submerged appliance and maintaining same at a pressure greater than the pressure of the surrounding water.

2. An appliance of the type described in claim 1 wherein said adjustable pressurizing means are located on said top member and include a vent valve a non-return valve, and

an inflation air valve.

3. An appliance of the type described in claim 2 ineluding a life line attached to said top member and an air hose attached to said inflation air valve.

4. An appliance of the type described in claim 3 wherein said support means includes a main support cable attached to said top member,

passing through said hole in said center disc, and attached to a mooring link.

5. An appliance of the type described in claim 4 wherein said mooring link is attached to a mooring line and to a plurality of guy wires which are attached to said bottom member.

6. An appliance of the type described in claim 5 wherein the spacing of said seat means define an entrance way into said appliance.

7. An appliance of the type described in claim 5 including a plurality of foot ropes secured to said main support cable and said guy wires.

8. An appliance of the type described in claim 7 including a rim wire secured around the periphery of said bottom member.

9. An appliance of the type described in claim 1 wherein said fabric is rubberized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,240 6/1893 Mann -2 1,975,333 10/1934 Romano 61-69 X 2,519,453 8/1950 Goodman 61-69 3,039,419 6/1962 Rimar 114-209 3,344,614 10/1967 Byck 61-69 3,379,022 4/ 1968 Welton 61-69 JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

